New York governor Nelson Rockefeller was deeply concerned at the 1968 Republican National Convention. He had let a nomination slip through his fingers, and Nixon seemed destined to win the nomination. "What a waste it was to endorse Romney," Rockefeller thought. But there was still time.

Before Richard Nixon knew it, he had lost his nomination. Rockefeller managed to keep Nixon within 100 delegates of the nomination on the first ballot. Once that happened, Rockefeller managed to cajole several favorite son candidates, to switch to him. He even gained George Romney's delegates after much negotiation. Also, Nixon lost the support of the southern delegates, who had warmed up to California Governor Ronald Reagan. After the second ballot, Nixon was eliminated, and Rockefeller managed to gain the support of Ohio Governor James Rhodes's delegates. After the third ballot, Nelson Rockefeller had narrowly won the nomination over Ronald Reagan, who had the support of the southern delegation. While Ronald Reagan begrudgingly endorsed Rockefeller, the southern delegates, led by Strom Thurmond, walked out of the convention and endorsed George Wallace's third party candidacy.

Rockefeller's next objective was to choose a vice-presidential nominee. After some deliberation, Texas Senator John Tower was chosen.

Meanwhile, George Wallace managed to convince actor John Wayne to become the vice-presidential nominee of the American Independent Party. While Wayne had initially said no, he balked at the idea of a Rockefeller presidency and joined forces with Wallace.

The election would prove to be intensely close, with the Humphrey/Muskie ticket representing the left, the Wallace/Wayne ticket representing the right, and the Rockefeller/Tower ticket representing the center. Both Wallace and Rockefeller ran “law and order” campaigns. However, Rockefeller vigorously supported civil rights, and made no attempt to cloak his support. This cost him the support of conservative white Republicans, who defected to Wallace. Also, Humphrey lost the support of many blue collar Democrats, who found Wallace’s campaign quite appealing.

Election night was a nail-biter. Wallace made an impressive showing in the South, while Rockefeller carried his home state of New York and New England, save for Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. However, Tower’s vice presidential candidacy failed to bring in Texas to the Rockefeller column. Meanwhile, Missouri and Kentucky went to Humphrey by tight margins. While John Wayne’s presence on the American Independence Party ticket was not enough to swing California to the American Independence Party, it was enough to swing it to Humphrey. No candidate felt assured of victory, and the ever-looming threat of an electoral draw seemed present. The results would not be called until next morning, where major news networks announced the Nelson Rockefeller had been elected the 37th President of the United States. The closest Rockefeller states were Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Had Humphrey carried any one of them, no candidate would have an electoral majority. Had Humphrey carried all of them in addition to New Jersey (which was close as well), he would have won the presidency.

Good TL. However, I think Rockefeller would defeat Humphrey by a larger margin because he was perceived as more moderate than Nixon and he was also a newer face to the national stage (in contrast to Nixon, who previously ran in 1960).

Rockefeller’s CabinetVice President: John TowerSecretary of State: Henry KissingerSecretary of Treasury: George RomneySecretary of Defense: Richard NixonAttorney General: James RhodesPostmaster General: William ScrantonSecretary of Interior: Edward BrookeSecretary of Labor: Margaret Chase SmithSecretary of Agriculture: Clifford HardinSecretary of Commerce: John ChafeeSecretary of Health, Education and Welfare: Arthur FletcherSecretary of Housing and Urban Development: John VolpeSecretary of Transportation: John Lindsay

Rockefeller carried very few coattails, with the Republicans only gaining 5 Senate seats and 5 House seats. However, Rockefeller felt optimistic on January 20, 1969, as he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming the President of the United States. Conservative Republicans were dismayed at Rockefeller’s cabinet selection, which was largely comprised of moderates. Conservatives would also be disappointed by Rockefeller’s domestic policy. In an effort to become “the greatest school desegregator in history,” President Rockefeller, who was outspoken in his support for civil rights, made no attempts to stop forced integration, or busing, of public schools. To ensure that school desegregation went smoothly, he threatened to use Federal troops if southerners would not comply. He also supported extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and declared on the campaign trail in 1970 that the Federal Government would never hesitate to intervene in the name of civil rights. Rockefeller also signed affirmative action programs, such as the Revised Philadelphia Plan, into law. He appointed numerous blacks, Hispanics, and women to government positions. This made Rockefeller very popular with minorities, social liberals, and moderates, but white southerners learned to despise him.

Rockefeller made no cuts in his predecessor’s Great Society, and expanded Medicare and Medicaid. Also, he and the Democratic Congress would increase federal spending on education, infrastructure, the arts, the environment, crime prevention, transportation, and welfare. To ameliorate the deficit incurred, Rockefeller signed the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1970, which raised income taxes. Nevertheless, Rockefeller was unable to present a balanced budget, declaring “Now I am a Keynesian.” Despite the federal spending, the economy was showing signs of stagnancy, and inflation was rising. This phenomenon would become known as “stagflation.” To control stagflation, Rockefeller signed the Economic Stabilization Act, which allowed him to set wages and prices. Rockefeller would decisively use them after passage. While the wage and price controls were popular, they did not end inflation. Rockefeller’s economic policies would alienate conservatives, who thought of President Rockefeller as a “tax-and-spend liberal.” However, Democrats like Hubert Humphrey would praise Rockefeller. Humphrey praised Rockefeller as “a man who was willing to cross party lines to ensure economic prosperity for generations to come.”

Rockefeller would also create numerous government departments during his first term, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Education, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He would also turn the cabinet level Post Office Department with the independent United States Postal Service. To help protect the environment, President Rockefeller would sign the Clean Air Act of 1970. Rockefeller would also increase spending for “The War on Drugs,” since he strongly believed that they were a menace to society. He would sign the Stable Society Act, which demanded mandatory life sentences for all drug users, dealers, and those convicted of drug-related violent crimes; a $1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of drug pushers; and harsh sentences for youthful drug users. Rockefeller’s harsh drug laws would become known as the “Rockefeller Drug Laws.”

In addition, Rockefeller increased funding for NASA, since he wanted to win the space race. One of his proudest moments was on July 20, 1969, which marked the first moon landing in history.

Secretary of State Kissinger conversing with Secretary of Defense Richard Nixon

Despite all his domestic policy accomplishments, President Rockefeller’s most pressing objective that Rockefeller had to accomplish was how to win “peace with honor” in Vietnam. Henry Kissinger, Rockefeller’s ally from his days as the Governor of New York, and Rockefeller’s former primary rival Richard Nixon both privately believed that the war in Vietnam was unwinnable, and that the United States should only help Saigon for a “decent interval” so that the United States could not be blamed for Vietnam’s fall. Rockefeller took Kissinger’s advice and implemented “Vietnamization:” American troops would gradually be replaced by Vietnamese troops so that South Vietnam could defend itself.

In March 1969, at Kissinger’s suggestion, President Rockefeller agreed to a secret bombing in Cambodia, in hopes of destroying to destroy Vietcong strongholds and weapons supplies. To cut the Ho Chi Minh trail, he would later agree to bomb Laos in 1971. Rockefeller’s Vietnam policies would cause significant backlash among the anti-war left. Students protested in cities and campuses. Anti-war protestor Jane Fonda would proclaim: "I would think that if you understood what Communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees, that we would someday become communists." Rockefeller despised hippies, made no attempts to negotiate with them, and took steps to undermine the hippie movement such as escalating the War on Drugs.

Although Rockefeller had made enemies on both the far right and the far left, he was still a fairly popular president, and his approval ratings were in the high fifties or low sixties.

Awesome Go Rocky, Does Chappaquidick still happen ITTL? Cuz if Rocky remains as popular as you say he is, Teddy may decide to wait till '76...Either Way can't wait to see your take on the '72 election...Keep it comming.

Awesome Go Rocky, Does Chappaquidick still happen ITTL? Cuz if Rocky remains as popular as you say he is, Teddy may decide to wait till '76...Either Way can't wait to see your take on the '72 election...Keep it comming.

Thanks Historico! Yep, Chappaquiddick still happened ITTL, but I agree with you that he probably wouldn't have run in '72 even without Chappaquiddick.

Just curious: Did Rocky raise income taxes on everyone, or just the rich? Also, go Rockefeller 1972!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He raised taxes on everybody, but most of the burden was on the rich. So like the poor saw like a 1% tax increase or something small like that while the rich had a much bigger tax increase percentage wise.

The 1970 mid-term elections ended up being somewhat of a draw for Rockefeller, as the Republicans ended up losing 9 House seats but ended up with a draw in the Senate races. Democrats picked up Senate seats in California and Illinois, while the Republicans managed to pick up Senator Al Gore’s seat in Tennessee, Joseph J. Tyding’s seat in Maryland, and Thomas Dodd’s seat in Connecticut, and an open seat in Ohio. Additionally, Charles Goodell managed to closely beat out Conservative Party Candidate James L. Buckley and Democratic candidate Richard Ottinger, largely due to a last minute campaign by President Nelson Rockefeller. In the end, the Republicans had picked up a net of 2 Senate seats while the Democrats had lost 3.

Alright, after this update I'll begin to cover the 1972 Presidential Election

Secretary Kissinger greeting Chairman Mao

Outside of Vietnam, Rockefeller’s foreign policy, carefully crafted by Secretary of Defense Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, was very popular. Rockefeller foreign policy would become known as realpolitik, where they would take pragmatic considerations into foreign policy rather than ideological considerations. After opening talks with China, President Rockefeller, Marguerite “Happy” Rockefeller, Richard Nixon, and Henry Kissinger visited China in February 1972, meeting up with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao Zedong. This normalizing relations with China was considered successful, and it would later be said that “only Rocky could go to China.”

Secretary Nixon meeting with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev

Additionally, President Rockefeller met with Leonid Brezhnev in Moscow on May 22, 1972. After intense negotiations, President Rockefeller and Brezhnev signed SALT I, an arms limitation agreement, and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. President Rockefeller’s foreign policy with the Soviet Union would become known as détente, as the United States and the Soviet Union would relax tensions and enjoy peaceful relations.

California Governor Ronald Reagan, the leader of the "Reagan Republicans"

Rockefeller’s foreign policy in regards to the Soviet Union and China would be opposed by “Reagan Republicans,” or conservative Republicans who were virulently anti-communist, opposed Rockefeller’s spending and tax increases, opposed his expansion of government, and opposed his liberal positions on social issues.

ERA Activists

Finally, Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, despite the ire of conservative Democrats and “Reagan Republicans.” President Rockefeller was an ardent supporter of the ERA, and campaigned heavily for it once it made its way to the state legislatures. Although there was fierce opposition from the South, the ERA was eventually passed.

Go Rocky, I wonder if the Democrats will nominate a Conservative to balance out Rocky's Progressivisim...Seems like Scoop Jackson could definatley outhawk and pick up alot of the Anti-detente vote...Can't wait to see what you come up with for the election...Keep it comming!!!

It does seem to me that in terms of policy, a Rockefeller presidency would not have been that different from the Nixon presidency. The main difference would have been, as you pointed out, less resistance to desegregation, less conservative judicial nominations, and fewer dog whistles to the South.

My impression is that the left would still have come to dominate Democratic presidential nominations, as Rocky's Vietnam policy wasn't all that different from Nixon's.

President Rockefeller was in a comfortable position for the 1972 election. He and Vice President John Tower were easily renominated, his approval ratings were in the high fifties and low sixties, the economy was functioning decently, and the United States seemed to be winning the War in Vietnam. Due to President Rockefeller’s popularity, many Democrats stayed out of the primaries. Additionally, many Democrats stayed out of the race because they covertly supported President Rockefeller, since he was fairly cooperative with the Democratic Congress and he had made significant progress within the civil rights movement.

George Stanley McGovern (D-SD)

George Corley Wallace, Jr. (D-AL)

Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA)

As a result, only a few Democrats ran in the primaries. These Democrats were South Dakota Senator George McGovern, Alabama Governor George Wallace, and Washington Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson. McGovern represented the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, while Wallace represented the far-right wing, and Jackson represented the center wing (even though Jackson was fairly liberal). Wallace’s campaign was attractive to many socially conservative voters who hated Rockefeller. On the campaign trail, Wallace would say: “President Nelson Rockefeller is a far left liberal who is ruining America. He has allowed the Communists to make significant inroads in Vietnam; he is making concessions to the Communists in the Soviet Union and China; and he has interfered with states rights.” George Wallace also portrayed himself in the biggest contrast to President Rockefeller, since McGovern and Jackson were fairly close to the President on domestic issues. Meanwhile, McGovern promised to end the War in Vietnam once in for all, while Jackson campaigned on ending détente and escalating the Vietnam War and the Cold War.

Scoop Jackson managed to win victories in the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primaries. However, Wallace won a huge victory in the Florida primary, carrying every county. He then won the Pennsylvania primary. McGovern would win the Massachusetts and California primaries. Wallace would do well in the South and among disgruntled socially conservative blue-collar white voters, while Jackson would do well among big labor and hawkish Democrats, and McGovern would do well among the hippies and the anti-war protestors. Primary victories would be exchanged among the three candidates throughout the entire Democratic primary season.

On the campaign trail in Maryland, a man named Arthur Bremer shot at Wallace and screamed “a penny for your thoughts!” Somehow, the shots missed and Bremer was quickly subdued. Wallace took his survival to be divine intervention, and that he had a mandate from God to win the Democratic nomination.

By the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami, no candidate had a majority of delegates. Wallace was in the lead, with Jackson second, and McGovern third. Wallace could have conceivably lost if Jackson combined his delegates with McGovern’s in a “Stop Wallace” movement, but the movement failed to gain traction since both refused to endorse each other. After many rounds of intense balloting, George Wallace was nominated.

Governor George Wallace accepting the nomination at the Democratic National Convention

Right after the nomination, George Wallace picked Georgia governor Lester Maddox to be his running mate. McGovern and Jackson both refused to endorse the segregationist governor, and McGovern, Jackson, and all their delegates stormed out of the convention in a huff. Scoop Jackson decided to bite the bullet and endorse President Rockefeller in his re-election bid, while George McGovern announced that he would run for the presidency as an independent. McGovern chose former Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy as his running mate. McGovern’s independent ticket would prove to be popular among hippies and college students, and it was said that McGovern’s candidacy was one of “amnesty, abortion, and acid.”

Many Democrats, such as Hubert Humphrey, Edmund Muskie, Shirley Chisholm, and Scoop Jackson endorsed Rockefeller’s re-election bid. “Democrats for Rockefeller” became a powerful political organization that convinced many Democrats to vote Republican.

President Rockefeller campaigned on his foreign policy and domestic successes. He portrayed Governor Wallace as a bigot and he portrayed George McGovern as far-left crazy liberal. Wallace tried to shoot back by saying that Rockefeller was not winning in Vietnam and that if Wallace were president, he would “bomb Hanoi until kingdom come.” This campaign message was seen as way too extreme, and more people started to support the Rockefeller ticket. Wallace also vowed to protect states rights and to allow for “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever.” If there was any doubt that Rockefeller would be re-elected, that doubt ended October 8, 1972, where after secret talks with the North Vietnamese, Secretary Kissinger declared that “peace is at hand.” This was more palatable than George Wallace’s hawkish message, and this also marginalized George McGovern’s anti-war message. Additionally, Rockefeller sent Vice President John Tower to campaign for him in the South. On November 7, 1972, President Rockefeller was re-elected in a landslide.

The election was the greatest Republican landslide since Abraham Lincoln’s re-election in 1864. George Wallace only carried states in the South. Wallace’s popularity came blue collar Democrats, labor unions, and the party machinery. Although George McGovern won a decent share of the popular vote (for a third party candidacy), he only carried the District of Columbia. The ultimate irony of the election was that Governor Wallace actually did worse on a major party ticket than he did on a third party ticket four years ago. Rockefeller even managed to carry some southern states due to Vice President and Southerner John Tower’s campaigning in the South. With a strong mandate, President Rockefeller looked forward to his second term.

It does seem to me that in terms of policy, a Rockefeller presidency would not have been that different from the Nixon presidency. The main difference would have been, as you pointed out, less resistance to desegregation, less conservative judicial nominations, and fewer dog whistles to the South.

My impression is that the left would still have come to dominate Democratic presidential nominations, as Rocky's Vietnam policy wasn't all that different from Nixon's.

Thanks pragmatic liberal! Well I figured Rockefeller's progressivism would launch a conservative nomination for 1972, just like Historico pointed out, but I doubt that conservatives will dominate the Democratic Party after Wallace's crushing defeat.

Great timeline, but just a question about the cabinet, John Lindsay in Agriculture.

Why a big city Secretary of Agriculture from Manhattan?

Did I actually do that? OOPS....

Um, I guess Rocky appointed him due to sectional nepotism? j/k more like it's a bad mistake on my part. I'll change it.

Rockefeller’s CabinetVice President: John TowerSecretary of State: Henry KissingerSecretary of Treasury: George RomneySecretary of Defense: Richard NixonAttorney General: James RhodesPostmaster General: William ScrantonSecretary of Interior: Edward BrookeSecretary of Labor: Margaret Chase SmithSecretary of Agriculture: Clifford HardinSecretary of Commerce: John ChafeeSecretary of Health, Education and Welfare: Arthur FletcherSecretary of Housing and Urban Development: John VolpeSecretary of Transportation: John Lindsay